Tehran - An influential Iranian clergy group on Saturday protested against alleged fraud in the presidential election counting process and called for the nullification of the election.

The Islamic Combatant Clergy Association (ICCA), which is close to former president Mohammad Khatami and supported Mir-Hossiein Moussavi in Friday's election, said on its website that the election should be nullified and held again in a calmer, more logical and more just atmosphere.

After an emergency session in Tehran, the ICCA regretted that the counting process was "widely engineered (manipulated)" and said there was enough evidence to prove the manipulation and to nullify the election.

"We will not leave Moussavi alone," the ICCA said in its statement.

Referring to violent street clashes between Moussavi supporters and police, the ICCA said that urgent steps such as repeating the election or at least carefully re-examining the votes would be needed to restore national reconciliation.

Clashes between Moussavi supporters and police continued Saturday night. Also sporadic shootings were heard in several parts of Tehran.

It is also said that at least in some parts of the capital the mobile phone system was down and hindering communication between the demonstrators. (dpa)